Safe Harbor stands with citizens throughout our communities who demand justice in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless other victims of racial violence and discrimination. We recognize that the roots of violence that cause domestic abuse are the same roots that lead to racism, discrimination, hate crimes and many other forms of injustice and oppression. Racism and domestic violence intersect in the lives of many Black women, leading to increased trauma and barriers to seeking support. Homicide at the hands of an intimate partner is the leading cause of premature death among African American women ages 15-44. Black women are murdered by men at more than twice the rate of white women. South Carolina consistently ranks among the top 10 states in the nation for women killed by men annually, with African American women experiencing a disproportionately high rate of lethal violence.
We must speak up against the racial biases that infect the hearts of individuals, institutions and systems, ultimately leading to discrimination and danger in the lives of people of color. We believe it is our responsibility as an organization to work, together with other community partners, to shed light on racial injustice, demand better from ourselves and others, and listen to and learn from the voices and lived experiences of BIPOC.
At Safe Harbor, we are striving to create a culture of inclusivity and empowerment. In 2018, we launched efforts to build an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion. Our staff have developed working groups to bring a lens of diversity, equity and inclusion into all areas of our mission and services, including outreach, fundraising, recruitment, internal staff culture, service delivery and accessibility. In August, we will have the opportunity to receive training and consultation on Becoming an Anti-Racist, Multicultural Organization from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. We look forward to learning and taking next steps toward becoming an anti-racist, multicultural organization in all aspects of our work.
Safe Harbor continues to listen and grow together with a spirit of humility and commitment. We know that we still have much to learn and steps to take as individuals and as an organization. We understand that developing a culture of inclusion and anti-racism is an ongoing, lifelong process and essential to Safe Harbor's vision to influence a culture where all people feel safe and valued.
Learn more about how domestic violence disproportionately affects people of color and other marginalized groups, as well as what you can do.
